Daniel and Majella ‘a great comfort’ to Cliff Richard
Singer Cliff Richard says Daniel O’Donnell and his wife, Majella, were “a great comfort” to him during a difficult time in his life.
He counts them as “great Irish friends” who were amongst a group of people who contacted him at the time.
They thought he probably wanted to be on his own but he sought their company.
Daniel and Majella were among the first people to come and stay with him at his home in Britain.
“It was a great comfort to me,” said the 77-year-old singer, who will kick off his 60th anniversary in the music industry next month in Killarney, Co Kerry.
Last month, Mr Richard won his high Court privacy case against the BBC over its coverage of a police raid on his home.
He took legal against the BBC over broadcasts of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire in August 2014, following a sex assault allegation.
Mr Richard said his fans, friends and family helped through the ordeal — they never left him alone.
He also learned about Christian forgiveness — he forgave his accuser:
I felt better not having that hate burning in my heart any more.
His fans were very supportive. He recalled seeing the gate of his home covered in yellow ribbons. He hoped and prayed that he was stronger for it.
Mr Richard began his career in 1958 when he was just 17 years old with the hit single ‘Move It’.
Over the next 60 years, he recorded 103 albums — 40 went platinum and over 50 went gold internationally.
He spent the equivalent of 20 years on the British charts.
His new tour titled 58-18=60 Tour starts in Killarney’s INEC on Thursday, September 27, moving to Dublin’s 3 Arena on Saturday, September 29.
The Irish leg of the tour finishes in Belfast’s’ SSE Arena on Sunday, September 30.
In an interview broadcast on RTÉ radio, yesterday Mr Richard said people in Ireland have always been very friendly towards him.
He and the band would rehearse in Killarney before staging their first concert in the town.
Mr Richard said he found a job that he loved.
“In our business, how could you not love being loved?”
